Display support



June 4, 1963 s CRAFA DISPLAY SUPPORT Filed April 27, 1962 INVENTOR ARTHUR S.CRAFA BY WM K ATTOR N EY United States Patent 3,091,875 DISPLAY SUPPORT Arthur S. Crafa, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to American Home Products Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27, 19621, Ser. No. 190,554 8 Claims. (Cl. iii-11) This invention relates generally to display support devices. More particularly, the invention pertains to such devices that are especially adapted for use in combination with the price-market channels now conventionally affixed to the front edges of shelves in use in certain stores merchandising packaged goods at the retail level.

Packaged goods to be sold at the retail level in stores of the type referred to above, e.g., as in self-service food and household item stores or supermarkets, drugstores, liquor stores, and the like, are conventionally kept on display on open shelves. However, there is normally a minimum amount of space available for each item within a group of related items on the shelves and adjacent thereo because of the limited total space usually available in such stores for the merchandise displayed. This is particular- 1y so since a major proportion of the total available space in the store must be set aside as passageways for the prospective customers who thus may walk alongside the shelves to make their selections.

The use of advertising displays, special product information, special price notices, etc., is necessary to the effective promotion of sales of packaged goods and has became an integral part of present day merchandising. Unfortunately, there is not enough space available on the usual store shelf for signs displaying such information Without interference with the items for sale or the ready removal thereof from the shelves by customers. Moreover, loose signholders and signs are easily pushed off the shelf, disarranged, or placed upon another shelf by careless customers.

In recognition of the primary problem just referred to, it has already been proposed to afiix sign holders to the edges of the shelves by means of clamps. Such holders do have a degree of permanence, but may tend to wobble and, moreover, often mar the shelves so that the latter must be periodically refinished. Additionally, the very fact that they must be clamped to the shelves mitigates against facile installation, removal, and replacement at another location, as desired.

In the continuing quest for utilization of all available space for the purpose of informing prospective customers of the prices of goods stored on shelves, the price tag channel has been developed and is now in almost universal use in retail stores and shops. The price tag channel referred to is usually a metallic or plastic strip of generally C-shaped cross-section having an elongated back member by which it is afflxed to the vertical edge of the display shelf with which it is associated. The height of the channel member is normally chosen to be of no greater dimension than the thickness of the shelf edge to which it is attached. In all cases, the top and bottom edges of the channel are flanged generally downwardly and upwardly, respectively, towards each other to form opposed horizontally disposed retaining grooves. Flexible tags having price or other information thereon are conventionally snapped into place within the opposed grooves provided by the C-shaped channel, whereby the lower and upper edges of Lhe tags are behind the lower and upper edges of the channel, respectively. The height dimensions of the tags with respect to the vertical distances between the opposed grooves of the channels and the flexibility of the material of the tags are conventionally chosen to be such that in the expanded relationship of the tags within the grooves of the channels, the tags are held in place within the channels but may readily be removed by pulling the tags out of the channels to permit the edges to snap out of the flanges thereof. Alternatively, and particularly when the tags .are not of flexible material, removal may be accomplished by sliding the tags laterally to an open edge of the channel. Since the height of the usual shelf edge is limited, the height of the channel attached thereto is normally similarly limited, as are, of course, the tags positioned in such channel, as well. Moreover, the informational matter appearing on the tags mounted in the channels is fully visible only from directly in front thereof, and hence only to customers who happen to approach substantially fully abreast of the display tags and then deliberately turn for the purpose of looking at said tags. Thus, the price channel tags cannot perform the highly desirable function of attracting the attention of customers still at a distance from the display.

With the foregoing shortcomings of the display tags supported in price channels in mind, there have been developed display fixtures or devices of the so-called snap-in type as described hereinafter, which utilize the C-shaped channels as a base support. These display fixtures, in turn, may support large displays, such as cards, away from the shelf edges per se. The card displays may be disposed by said display fixtures in a vertical plane generally perpendicular to the shelf edge, whereby visibility of said displays is possible from afar, such as at the further end of an aisle flanked by shelves and into which a customer enters.

Several of the early attempts to provide display fixtures mountable within the (;-channels to perform the functions referred to above involve the use of flexible webs of metal of appreciable width such as disclosed in USP 2,921,393 and USP 3,015,177. Because of the amount of metal necessary in the fabrication of these devices, the cost has been comparatively high. Moreover, they are essentially unsightly due to their mass and therefore detract from the display they are carrying. Also due to their bulk and inherent rigidity they are not easily insertable or removable in the price channels, nor, for the same reasons, are they readily adaptable for use with channels of appreciably diflering heights.

In attempts to solve the problems originally posed by the advent of the price channel tag display and those inherent in the web type display support devices suggested for solving said problems, display supports in the form of single unitary strips of bent wire have been proposed. Thus, in USP 2,850,820, a display support device is disclosed, which comprises, as price channel engaging component, a substantially Z-shaped portion wherein the diagonally connecting leg of the Z defines interiorly opposite acute angles which are diminished on pressing of the opposite parallel legs to permit insertion of this component between the flanges of the price channel with which it is to be operatively associated, or removal therefrom. Continuous with the distal end of one of the parallel legs of the 2, is another or fourth leg which extends substantially in the direction towards the opposite leg of the Z a distance at least sufficient to clear the flange of the channel with which it is associated in use. A fifth leg continuous with the fourth leg is provided which extends outwardly from the main plane of the Z-shaped portion to provide means for mounting the display such as a card, outwardly of the channel in which the Z-shaped portion is mounted. Because of the configuration of the device d scribed, when the latter is to be mounted in a price channel, it is necessary to insert one of the two parallel legs of the Z-shaped portion within a flange of the channel and then to squeeze the other parallel leg towards the first one to permit insertion of said other leg within the other associated flange of the channel. As will be apparent, in use, the only part of the device not within the plane of the channel itself, is the extension upon which the display card or other advertising means is supported. As a result, the device may not be manipulated readily for squeezing the parallel legs together for insertion into the channel. This disadvantage of difficulty of manipulation is greatly increased when the device is already in the channel and it is desired to remove it for placing it in another channel or for any other reason. The same difficulty is still more pronounced when the device is fashioned for adaptability within channels of greater and lesser heights and the device has been inserted into a channel of lesser heights whereby the opposed legs within the flanges are under excessive tension. On the other hand, if the tension of parts is reduced during manufacture to overcome the last disadvantage; the device, when inserted into channels of greater height exerts minimum tension with the result that the device may easily be displaced from such channel by inadvertent jostling.

In USP 2,923,078 and USP 2,941,321 there are also disclosed display support devices of unitary bent wire. In these devices, the portions of wire separating and exerting tension upon the opposed legs that fit within the flanges of the channels are of varying configurations. However, as in the display support device of USP 2,850,- 820, these later devices also have their unitary extensions, which bear the displays, continuous with the distal end of only one of the legs of the supporting structure portions. As a result, limitations and disadvantages with respect to insertion, removal, and adaptability of these devices, are quite similar to those inherent in the display structure of USP 2,850,820 described above.

With the foregoing disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art in View, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple, highly efficient display support device, which is particularly adapted to be attached to or detached from a generally C-shaped support such as the price tag chanenls with which retail merchandising stores are now provided.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a device which is of a one-piece resilient material structure which may be manufactured economically so that it adds no substantial cost to the advertising overhead of the store, even when used in large numbers.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a display fixture which may readily be attached to and detached from the conventional C-shaped channel by a simple one-hand manipulation.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device which is as readily adaptable for use with channels of either comparatively lesser or greater heights as it is for channels of more conventional heights.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as a result of a better understanding thereof upon reference to the following description.

Generally, the invention resides in the provision of an advertising display support adapted for resilient engagement between the oppositely disposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges of a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, said display support comprising: a continuous length of resilient material of substantially uniform cross-section forming a first leg adapted to be retained within one of the opposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges on a mounting member of generally shaped cross-section, a second leg extending from said first leg at least a distance whereby said second leg is adapted to protrude out of the groove in which said first leg is retained, a third leg extending from the second leg at an angle thereto in a direction adapted to extend outwardly from the mounting member when the display support is mounted therein, a loop attached to the end of the third leg and adapted to support thereon a display device, a fourth leg extending from the other end of said loop to form an angle with said third leg, a fifth leg ex tending at an angle to said fourth leg in a direction adapted to extend within the other groove of the mounting member when the support is mounted therein, and a sixth leg attached to the end of said fifth leg extending in substantially parallel relationship with said first leg and in the opposite direction thereof, said first and sixth legs having at least portions thereof directly opposed.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display support device mounted in a C-shaped channel of a height that may be considered greater than normal;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same device shown in FIG. 1 now supported in a C-shaped channel of a height that may be considered to be less than that of the usual channel;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and removed from the channels of those figures;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the device of FIGS. 3 and 4, taken in the direction from right to left as viewed in the latter figures.

Referring to FIG. 1, a price tag channel 2 of the usual C-shaped cross-sectional configuration, but of greater height that most usual, is provided with a straight back portion 3 by which the channel 2 may be fastened to the vertical edge of a shelf (not shown) as by adhesives, nails, screws, retaining brackets, or the like. Channel 2 is provided at its upper and lower parallel edges with inwardly turned flanges 3 and 4 forming opposed inwardly open parallel grooves 5 and 6 which are adapted to receive price tags, cards or other display devices which are preferably flexible to permit insertion behind flanges 3 and 4 of channel 2.

Mounted on channel 2 of FIG. 1 is .a display support device 8. 'In accordance with the present invention, this device is formed of a continuous wire comprising a first leg 9, which, as indicated in broken lines, is adapted to be received within the upper groove 6 formed by flange 4 of channel 2. Connected to leg 9 is a generally downwardly directed second leg 10 positioned in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of back portion 3 of the channel 2. A third leg 11 is connected to leg 10 and is directed both downwardly generally (FIG. 3) and outwardly with respect to leg 10 (FIG. 4) and generally reversely with respect to leg 9 (FIG. 5). A fourth leg 12 is attached to leg 11 and (as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5) is disposed substantially in a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the vertical plane that extends through the entire lengths of leg 9 and of a leg 17 which is parallel thereto and is described in greater detail hereinafter. Fourth leg 12 continues into a spring loop 13, which is shown consisting of four pressed turns for a dual purpose which will also appear hereinafter.

Extending from the other end of loop 13, is a fifth leg 14 extending in a vertical plane that is substantially parallel to the vertical plane of leg 12 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and hence is also perpendicular to said vertical plane passing through legs 9 and 17. A sixth leg is connected to leg 14 and is directed both downwardly generally (FIG. 3) and outwardly with respect to leg 14 (FIG. 5) and generally reversely with respect to leg 17 (FIG. 5). A seventh leg 16 is attached to leg 15 and is directed generally downwardly and in a plane that is substantially parallel to the back portion 3 of channel 2 when device 8 is supported in the latter as shown in FIG. 1.

Eighth leg 17, previously referred to above, is connected to leg 16 and is disposed parallel to leg 9 while extending reversely thereto (FIG. 5), so that when said leg 17 is positioned within groove 7 behind lower flange 5 of channel 2, as shown in FIG. 1, the lengths of legs 9 and 17 are substantially entirely directly opposed.

A display card C of substantial size, indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1, may be forcibly inserted between the closely adjacent middle two turns of the loop 13, which then clampingly retain card C in the desired position on device 8 with relation to goods which may be on the shelf (not shown) to which channel 2 is .attached, for example.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the device 8, prior to insertion in a price channel, has the general configuration shown in FIGS. 3-5. Thus, prior to use of the device, the resilience of spring loop 13 thereof biases the portion of the device consisting of legs 9, 10, 11 and '12 away from the portion thereof consisting of legs 14, 15, 16 and 17. In this condition, the display support device 8, occupies minimum space and lends itself to being packed in large quantities for shipment by nesting or even being dropped haphazardly in containers of reasonable dimensions.

In use, the display card C is preferably forced between the middle turns of spring loop 13 whereby the inherent resilient biasing of the turns towards each other causes clamping engagement and retention of card C therebetween, in its chosen relationship to spring loop 13. Usually, the card is positioned in the loop 13 so that it points in the direction indicated in FIG. 1. Obviously, however, it may be positioned otherwise as desired.

The display device with the card C supported in spring loop 13 thereof may then be aflixed in a comparatively high channel such as 2 shown in FIG. 1 by simply holding and squeezing legs 12 and 14 together in one hand. Then, with parallel legs 9 and 17 closer to each other than the proximate edges of flanges 4 and 5, of channel 2, legs 9 and =17 maybe positioned below and above grooves 6 and 7, respectively. Pressure on legs 12 and 14 may then be released to permit the inherent spring action of spring loop 13 to separate legs 12 and 14 apart whereby legs 9 and 17 are resiliently seated within grooves 6 and 7, respectively. Since legs 9 and 17 have the lengths thereof substantially entirely directly opposed to each other, a firm seating of the device in the channel 2 results, whereby normal lateral and/ or torque forces inadvertently applied against the device 8 will be insuflicient to unseat it from the channel 2. However, as will be apparent, the device 8, while firm in its channel mounting in which it is seated, is easily removable therefrom with one hand by squeezing legs 12 and 14 towards each other until legs 9 and 17 are free of flanges 4 and 5.

The same device 8, due to its unique construction, is also particularly adaptable for use in channels of comparatively lesser height than normal. In such application, preferably after insertion of card C within spring loop 13 as before, legs 12 and 14 are squeezed together as before. In this case, however, the squeezing is continued until at least a portion of leg .12 passes below leg 14 (see FIGS. 2. and 3). Thus, legs 9 and 17 are brought close enough together to permit insertion thereof behind flanges 4' and 5 of smaller channel 2', whereupon release of hand pressure causes seating of legs 9 and 17 within grooves 6' and 7', respectively. As will be apparent (particularly upon viewing FIGS. 4 and 5) due to the novel relations-hip of the parts of the device, such extreme squeezing together of legs 12 and 14 is possible without engagement of any of said parts, at least until legs 9 and 17 are substantially in abutment. Hence, it will be apparent that the device of the invention is usable in channels of comparatively greater heights which are just a little shorter than the vertical distance between legs 9 and 17 in the fully biased position, as shown in FIG. 3, as well as in channels having heights not substantially greater than the over all height of either leg or leg 16, or than the greater of them, if unequal.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated; as will appear to those skilled in the art, many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invent-ion as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An advertising display support adapted for resilient engagement between the oppositely disposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges of a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, said display support comprising: a length of material forming a first leg adapted to be retained within one of the opposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges on a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, a second leg extending from said first leg at least a distance whereby said second leg is adapted to protrude out of the groove in which said first leg is retained, a third leg extending from said second leg at an angle thereto in a direction adapted to extend outwardly from the mounting :member when the display support is mounted therein, a loop attached to the end of said third leg and adapted to support thereon a display device, a fourth leg extending from the other end of said loop to form an angle with said third leg, a fifth leg extending at an angle to said fourth leg in a direction adapted to extend into the other groove of the mounting member when the support is mounted thereon, and a sixth leg attached to the end of said fifth leg extending in substantially parallel relationship with said first leg and in the opposite direction thereof, and adapted to be retained within the other of the opposed grooves of the C-shaped mounting member, said first and sixth legs having at least portions thereof directly opposed.

2. An advertising display support as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least said loop resiliently biases said third and fourth legs apart.

3. An advertising display support adapted for resilient engagement between the oppositely disposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges of 'a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, said display support comprising: a continuous length of resilient material of substantially uniform cross-section forming a first leg adapted to be retained within one of the opposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges on a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, a second leg extending from said first leg at least a distance whereby said second leg is adapted to protrude out of the groove in which said first leg is retained, a third leg extending from said sec ond leg at an angle thereto in a direction adapted to extend outwardly from the mounting member when the display support is mounted therein, a loop attached to the end of said third leg and adapted to support thereon a display device, a fourth leg extending from the other end of said loop to form an angle with said third leg, a fifth leg extending at an angle to said fourth leg in a direction adapted to extend into the other groove of the mounting member when the support is mounted thereon, and a sixth leg attached to the end of said fifth leg extending in substantially parallel relationship with said first leg and in the opposite direction thereof, and adapted to be retained within the other of the opposed grooves of the C-shaped mounting member, said first and sixth legs having at least portions thereof directly opposed.

4. An advertising display support adapted for resilient engagement between the oppositely disposed lgtrooves formed by the opposed flanges of a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, said display support comprising: a continuous length of resilient material of substantially uniform cross-section forming a first leg adapted to be retained within one of the opposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges on a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, a second leg extending from said first leg at least a distance whereby said second leg is adapted to protrude out of the groove in which said first leg is retained, a third leg extending from the second leg at an angle thereto in a direction adapted to extend outwardly from the mounting member when the display support is mounted therein and generally reversely with respect to said first leg, a fourth leg extending from said third leg at an angle thereto in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane passing through the length of said first leg, a loop attached to the end of said fourth leg and adapted to support thereon a display device, a fifth leg extending from the other end of said loop to form an angle with said fourth leg in a direction generally perpendicular to another plane passing through the length of said first leg, a sixth leg extending at an angle to said fifth leg in a direction adapted to extend inwardly toward the mounting member when the display support is mounted therein and generally in a direction similar to that of said first leg, a seventh leg extending at an angle to said sixth leg in a direction adapted to extend into the other groove of the mounting member when the support is mounted thereon, and an eighth leg attached to the end of said seventh leg and extending in substantially parallel relationship with said first leg and in the opposite direction thereof, said first and eighth legs having at least portions thereof directly opposed.

5. An advertising display support as claimed in claim 4 wherein said loop comprises at least two turns adapted to clamp therebetween the web of a display device.

6. An advertising display support as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fourth and fifth legs are squeezable past each other without engagement.

7. An advertising display support as claimed in claim 6 wherein upon squeezing of said fourth leg past said fifth leg, said first leg is movable past the end of said fifth leg without engagement of said first leg with any other of said legs.

8. An advertising display support adapted for resilient engagement between the oppositely disposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges of a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, said display support comprising: a continuous length of resilient wire material of substantially uniform cross-section forming a first straight leg adapted to be retained within one of the opposed grooves formed by the opposed flanges on a mounting member of generally C-shaped cross-section, a second straight leg extending from said first leg at least a distance whereby said second leg is adapted to protrude out of the groove in which said first leg is retained, a third straight leg adapted to extend outwardly from the mounting mem- :ber when the display support is mounted therein and generally reversely with respect to said first leg to form an acute angle therewith, a fourth straight leg extending from said third leg at an obtuse angle thereto in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane passing through the length of said first straight leg, a loop attached to the end of said fourth leg, said loop comprising at least two close resilient turns adapted to support therebetween a display device, a fifth straight leg extending from the other end of said loop to form an angle with said fourth leg in planes substantially parallel to the main plane of said turns, said fifth leg also extending in a direction generally perpendicular to another plane passing through the length of said first leg, a sixth leg extending at an angle to said fifth leg in a direction adapted to extend inwardly toward the mounting member when the display support is mounted therein, and generally in a direction similar to that of said first leg, a seventh leg extending at an angle to said sixth leg in a direction adapted to extend into the other groove of the mounting member when the support is mounted thereon, and an eighth leg attached to the end of said seventh leg and extending in substantially parallel relation ship with said first leg and in the opposite direction thereof and adapted to be retained within the other of the opposed grooves of the C-shaped mounting member, said first and eighth legs having at least portions thereof directly opposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,933,474 Ekedahl Oct. 31, 1933 2,130,945 Browne-ll Sept. 30, 1938 2,859,546 Gutterson Nov. 11, 1958 3,015,177 Hembd Jan. 2, 1962 

8. AN ADVERTISING DISPLAY SUPPORT ADAPTED FOR RESILIENT ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED GROOVES FORMED BY THE OPPOSED FLANGES OF A MOUNTING MEMBER OF GENERALLY C-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, SAID DISPLAY SUPPORT COMPRISING: A CONTINUOUS LENGTH OF RESILIENT WIRE MATERIAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS-SECTION FORMING A FIRST STRAIGHT LEG ADAPTED TO BE RETAINED WITHIN ONE OF THE OPPOSED GROOVES FORMED BY THE OPPOSED FLANGES ON A MOUNTING MEMBER OF GENERALLY C-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, A SECOND STRAIGHT LEG EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST LEG AT LEAST A DISTANCE WHEREBY SAID SECOND LEG IS ADAPTED TO PROTRUDE OUT OF THE GROOVE IN WHICH SAID FIRST LEG IS RETAINED, A THIRD STRAIGHT LEG ADAPTED TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM THE MOUNTING MEMBER WHEN THE DISPLAY SUPPORT IS MOUNTED THEREIN AND GENERALLY REVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST LEG TO FORM AN ACUTE ANGLE THEREWITH, A FOURTH STRAIGHT LEG EXTENDING FROM SAID THIRD LEG AT AN OBTUSE ANGLE THERETO IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO A PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST STRAIGHT LEG, A LOOP ATTACHED TO THE END OF SAID FOURTH LEG, SAID LOOP COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO CLOSE RESILIENT TURNS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THEREBETWEEN A DISPLAY DEVICE, A FIFTH STRAIGHT LEG EXTENDING FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID LOOP TO FORM AN ANGLE WITH SAID FOURTH LEG IN PLANES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE MAIN PLANE OF SAID 